4-H Horse Program History

Johnson County, Texas
The horse committee was formed back in 1990-1991 as a result of several people having an interest in establishing a 4-H Horse program in the county. Prior to that time there was no organized 4-H horse activity in the county, no horse shows, no judging team, no clinics, only scattered club activities.

When this interest came up, Ed Bader, through the advice of the Johnson County Booster Club and others, approached the Johnson County Youth Fair Committee about adding horse activities to the county youth fair. The idea was rejected because they said their insurance would become too expensive due to the dangerous nature of horse activities. It was suggested by the county agent at that time, Bob Harrington, to organize a Johnson County 4-H Horse Committee. The program started with one county qualifying show for the year.

Now, we offer three shows in the Fall (that includes our famous Halloween costume class), Winter ride nights with limited instruction, and four Spring shows designed to help prepare those who want to go on to 4-H District and State competitions. Our county awards and recognition banquet is usually held in June. The committee also sponsors and helps support the Horse Judging team, the Horse Quiz Bowl team and the Hippology team as non-horse learning activities.

The Johnson County 4-H Horse Committee is open to anyone interested in the county's 4-H horse activities. We meet on the last Monday night of each month. We look forward to new ideas and programs that we may not have thought of.

Program Objectives

Educational Training and Life Lessons
The main objective of the Johnson County 4-H Horse Committee has always been to provide the best educational training and life lessons we can. The programs, formats, schedules, and people have changed over the years, but the goal remains the same. The committee tries to schedule and coordinate the county's 4-H horse activities so that every child from age eight to high school seniors of age 18 has a safe environment in which to grow up with their horse.

We hope our shows will help our Youth learn about competition so they might do well at the District and State 4-H shows. As a by-product, hopefully our non-4-H Youth as well as adults might enjoy their time as well.

4-H Horse Committee

Dedicated & Experienced Leadership
We have been very fortunate over the years to have had the consistent support of several parents whose children have gone through the 4-H program. Those children have grown up and gone on to manage their own lives and families, but the horse program still remains for those children who show a passion for riding. Ed and Kay Bader and John Robker have been in the the 4-H program for many years and remain some of the most dedicated people throughout all the shows and judging.

Over the years, we have added Sherry Jones, Vickie Money, Nancy and Charlie Hogg, Melinda Clark, and Glynda Clark, Chad Hamill, Kristine and Harry Waldron, Tara and Darren Kennedy, John McGrew, Shannon and David Brotherton and Cindy Rankin to our core team of volunteers. If you are interested in contributing what you have to offer as a volunteer in our horse program, come to our committee meetings to meet us and see what we are all about.